Dry cleaning machine



Aug. 17, 1965 J. c. woRsT DRY CLEANING MACHINE Filed Sept. 19. 1963 FILL cue/w DRAIN SWITCH 24 SWITCH 25' SWITCH 26 SWITCH 27 FIG. 3

INVENTOR. JOSEPH c. WORST BY W W ms ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,200,621 DRY CLEANING MACHlNE Joseph C. Worst, Louisville, Ky, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 309,989 6 Claims. (Cl. 68-12) This invention relates to dry cleaning machines.

It is an object of my invention to provide a simple and compact dry cleaning machine which is adaptable to home use.

Another object of my invention is to provide a dry cleaning machine in which the cleaning fluid is eifectively filtered after each cleaning cycle.

A further object of my invention is to provide a dry cleaning machine in which cleaning fluid evaporated during each cleaning operation is recovered for reuse.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

My invention, on one form thereof, is directed to a dry cleaning machine including a clothes receptacle and a fluid storage container connected by a fluid conducting conduit. An air pump is connected to the container and conduit by means including a valve which directs the air output of the air pump selectively to either the container or the conduit. This controlled air flow causes the receptacle to be filled with fluid, agitates the fluid to clean the clothes and, after a drain period, dries the clothes. A filter is provided to clean the fluid as it drains from the receptacle. A fluid deflector is provided in the fluid conduit to divert substantially all the fluid draining from the receptacle and direct it to the filter. The deflector extends across a major portion of the fluid conduit but does not completely close it. A return conduit is provided be tween the receptacle and the inlet to the air pump and includes a cooling unit which condenses cleaning fluid vapor and returns it to the container.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a dry cleaning machine incorporating one embodiment of my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic electrical wiring diagram illustrating a control system for the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sequence control chart illustrating a suitable sequence of operation for the timer switches shown in FIGURE 2, and

FIGURE 4 is a partial front elevational view similar to FIGURE 1 illustrating a modified form of a deflector.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 of the drawing, the dry cleaning machine is formed by an outer cabinet structure 1 which encloses the various operating elements. The top of the cabinet is provided with an opening 2 which is closed by means of a cover 3. A clothes receptacle 4 is mounted just below the opening 2 and is connected to a fluid storage container 5 by means of a vertically extending conduit 6. The conduit 6 terminates at its upper end at the bottom of the clothes receptacle 4. The lower end of conduit 6 extends into the storage container 5 and terminates a predetermined distance above the bottom of the storage container 5. An opening in the upper end of receptacle 4 is closed with an air tight seal by a lower portion 3a of cover 3. V V

In order to provide a stream of air to force fluid from the storage container 5 to the clothes receptacle 4, to agitate the fluid and immersed clothes in the clothes receptacle 4, and to dry the clothes after cleaning, an air pump '7 is provided. The outlet of the air pump 7 is connected to the vertical conduit 6 by means of an air supply pipe 8. A branched extension 9 is provided for the air supply pipe 8 in order to also connect the outlet of the air pump 7 to the storage container 5. A valve lil is provided in the air supply pipe between the branched extension 9 and the vertical conduit 6 to control the flow of air between the air pump7 and the vertical conduit 6. It will be understood that the term valve is used in its more generic sense and includes any element or combination of elements which would serve to control gas flow through the air supply pipe 8. v

The upper portion of the clothes receptacle 4 is connected to the inlet of the air pump 7 by means of an exhaust conduit 11. The exhaust conduit 11 is provided with an enlarged portion 12 which provides a housing for a cooling unit or evaporator 13. The evaporator 13 forms a part of a conventional refrigeration system including a condenser 14 and compressor 15. The lower end of the enlarged portion 12 is provided with a condensate tube 16 which extends downwardly within the storage container 5 to a point below the lower end of vertical conduit 6.

In order to filter the cleaning fluid as it drains from the storage compartment to remove dirt and lint therefrom and generally render the fluid suitable for reuse, a filter 17 is provided. The filter 17 is mounted in a tubular filter housing 18 which extends downwardly into the storage container 5 to a point below the lower end of vertical conduit 6. The upper end of the filter housing 18 is provided with an entry conduit 19 which extends from the side of vertical conduit 6.

In order to divert fluid draining downwardly through the vertical conduit 6 a deflector 21B is mounted in the vertical conduit 6 just below the entry conduit 19. The deflector is angled upwardly to a point above the entry conduit 19 and extends substantially across the vertical conduit. Although it extends substantially across the vertical conduit 6, it is spaced from the vertical conduit wall 6a. This space allows air forced out of the storage container 5 by the cleaning fluid to escape to the clothes receptacle 4. The passage of the air between the deflector 2t) and vertical conduit wall 6a minimizes the flow of cleaning fluid past the deflector and, thereby, insures that substantially all the cleaning fluid is directed to the filter 17 A modified form of deflector and deflector mounting is shown in FIGURE 4. The deflector 20a is mounted in the vertical conduit 6 just below the entry conduit 19 by means of a hinge 20b. The deflector 26a normally occupies the position shown in solid line. During the flll period of operation the force of the fluid flowing upward through vertical conduit 6 causes the deflector 20a to assume the position shown in broken line, where it allows unimpeded flow through vertical conduit 6. During the drain period of operation the deflector returns to its normal position blocking vertical conduit 6 and diverts fluid flowing from the receptacle 4 through filter 17.

During a first or cleaning period of operation the air pump 7 is on and the valve It) is closed so that the air stream emitted from the outlet of the air pump 7 is directed through the air supply pipe 8 and branched extension 9 to the storage container 5. The ingress of air into the storage container 5 forces cleaning fluid out of the storage container 5 and upwardly through the vertical conduit 6 into the clothes receptacle 4 until the fluid level in the storage container 5 has been lowered from an upper therein and thereby clean the clothes which have been placed in the receptacle 4.

At the end of the first period of operation, the air pump 7 is de-energized and the valve is opened, initiating a second or drain period of operation.- With the discontinuance of the entry of the air stream, the fluid contained in the clothes receptacle 4 begins to flow downwardly through the vertical conduit 6 and return to the storage container 5. As the fluid level rises in the storage container 5, the air contained therein is forced out through the branched extension and the air supply pipe 8 into the vertical conduit 6 where it passes upwardly around the deflector 20. Since the deflector 20 extends across the major portion of vertical conduit 6, leaving only a narrow restricted passage between the edge of deflector 2i) and the vertical conduit wall 6a the passage of air upwardly around the deflector 20 causes substantially all of the fluid flowing from the clothes receptacle to be deflected through the entry conduit 19, filter 17 and filter housing 18 into the storage container 5. Although a small amount of the fluid flows past the deflector 26 through conduit 6, a sufliciently high percentage is deflected through the filter 17 to provide effective filtering of entrained lint and dirt.

- It may be advisable to include a screen or other clothesblocking member 23 at the upper end of vertical conduit 6 in order to ensure that clothes contained in the clothes receptacle 4 are not drawn down into the vertical conduit 6 during the drain operation. The advisability of such a screen member 23 would depend upon the cross-sectional area of the vertical conduit 6 and the relative size .of the clothes to be cleaned, and the screen member 23 is not necessary for a proper operation of my invention except in cases where the items of clothing are of small size compared to the size of the conduit.

At the conclusion of the second or drain period of operation, the air pump 7 is energized and the cooling system, including the evaporator 13, condenser 14 and compressor 15, is energized initiating a third or drying period of operation. Since the valve 10' remains open, the air emitted from the air pump 7 is directed through the air supply pipe 8 and vertical conduit 6 to the clothes receptacle 4 where it flows upwardly through the clothes contained therein. This results in evaporation of the residual cleaning fluid remaining in the clothes after the drain period of operation to effect drying of the clothes. The air contained in the clothes receptacle 4, which is laden with cleaning fluid vapor, is evacuated through exhaust conduit 11 which is connected to the inlet of the air pump 7. The evaporator 13 is disposed in an enlarged portion 12 of the conduit 11. The evaporator 13 cools the air and condenses the vapor therein. The condensed vapor is then returned to the storage container 5 evaporator 13 a cold water heat exchanger type of cooling unit connected to an external source of cold water.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, there is shown in schematic form a control arrangement for controlling the sequence'of operation of the various components of the machine. It will, of course, be understood that in actual practice various interlocking arrangements of different functions may be provided together with various electrically controlled safety features; however, these have been omitted since they do not form-a part of my invention and such circuit modifications are well known to those skilled in the art. I v a The basic operation of the means for controlling the sequence of operationis provided-through a series of switches 24, 25, 26, and 27 which are actuated by cams 28, 29, 3%, and 31 respectively. The cams are driven by means of a cam motor (not shown). The switch 24 serves to turn the dry cleaning machine on and off and is closed manually and opened by means of cam 28. Switches 25, 26, and 27 are both opened and closed by means of cams 29, 30, and 31 respectively. Switch 25 controls valve 10 while switch 26 controls the air pump 7 and switch 27 controls the compressor l5.

The power for energizing the various components shown in FIGURE 2 is supplied from a two-wire source comprising power supply lines 34 and 35. This two-Wire source may, for example, comprise a conventional 115- volt domestic supply. Switch 24 is located'in power supply line 34 while the remaining switches 25, 26, and 27 and their associated components are connected in parallel between supply line 34 and supply line 35.

FIGURE 3 is a'line diagram indicating when each of switches 24, 25, 26, and 27 is opened or closed with reference to the various periods of operation of the dry cleaning machine. A heavy line indicates that a particular switch is closed while a light line indicates that a particular switch is open.

With the foregoing construction and with particular attention to FIGURES 2 and 3, the operation of the control circuit will be described for a complete sequence of operation of the dry cleaning machine including cleaning, draining and drying.

After the clothes to be cleaned have been placed in the clothes receptacle, and the cover 3 has been closed, the operator manually closes switch 24 energizing the cam motor (not shown). The cam motor rotates each of the cams 28, 29, 3t), and 31 so that cam 28 holds switch 24 closed whilecam 29 closes switch 25, energizing and thereby closing the valve 10, and cam 30 closes switch 26, energizing the air pump 7. This corresponds to a first period of operation in which the fluid is forced from the storage container 5 into the clothes receptacle 4 and the fluid in the clothes receptacle .4 is agitated to clean Some commercially available cleaning fluids have relatively low boiling points and will be effectively vaporized by subjecting the clothes to a stream of unheated air. However, other commercially available cleaning fluids have relatively high boiling points. If one of these fluids 14 within the vertical conduit 6. Another method of providing the desired heat is by incorporating a separate heater of .the tubular resistance type in the vertical conduit 6 and energizing the heater at the beginning of the drying period of operation.

If it is desired the evaporator 13, condenser 14 and compressor 15 may be eliminated by substituting for the 'is to be used with my invention, it may be necessary to c the clothes.

At the end of the first, or cleaning period, the cams have rotated sufficiently that switches 25 and 26 are opened, de-energizing and thereby opening the valve 10 and theair pump 7. This begins a second or drain period of operation in which the fluid inclothes receptacle 4 drains downwardly from the clothes receptacle 4 through the vertical conduit 6 and is diverted by the deflector 20 through the filter 17 into the storage container 5.

At the end of the second, or drain, period cam 30 closes switch 26, energizing the air pump 7 and cam 31 closes switch 27, energizing the compressor 15. During this third or drying period of operation, air emitted from the air pump 7 is directed through the clothes receptacle 4 to evaporate cleaning fluid retained in the clothes and is then directed from the clothes receptacle through the enlarged portion 12 where the evaporator 13 condenses thecleaning fluid, which is returned to the storage container 5. At the conclusion of the third, or drying, period of operation, cams 28,29, 30, and 31 rotate to open their associated switches 24, 25, 26, and 27 respectively to deenergize the machine. At this time'the cleaning operation is complete and the operator may remove the clean dry clothes.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, I do not desire my invention to be limited to the particular construction shown and intend the appended claims to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A dry cleaning machine comprising:

(a) a receptacle adapted to receive clothes to be cleaned,

(b) a container for cleaning fluid, said container being positioned below said receptacle,

(c) first conduit means connecting said container to the lower portion of said receptacle, said first conduit means extending within said container to a point below the upper level of fluid in said container,

(d) an air pump having an outlet,

(1) second conduit means connecting said outlet to said container,

(2) third conduit means connecting said outlet to said receptacle, said third conduit means including a valve,

(e) a filter for the fluid,

(f) first means connecting said filter with said container,

(g) second means connecting said filter with said first conduit means for receiving fluid draining form said receptacle,

(h) means projecting into said first conduit means for diverting substantially all of the fluid draining from said receptacle to said filter through said second means.

2. A clothes cleaning machine comprising:

(a) a receptacle adapted to receive clothes to be cleaned,

(b) a container for cleaning fluid, said container being positioned below said receptacle,

(0) first conduit means connecting said container to the lower portion of said receptacle, said first conduit means extending within said container to a point below the upper level of fluid in said container,

(d) an air pump having an outlet,

(1) second conduit means connecting said outlet to said container,

(2) third conduit means connecting said outlet to said receptacle, said third conduit means including a valve,

(e) a filter for the fluid, said filter opening into said container,

(f) said first conduit having an opening therein,

(g) an entry conduit connecting said filter to said first conduit at said opening,

(h) means for diverting a major portion of the fluid draining from said receptacle through said entry conduit to said filter,

(i) said means including a deflector disposed below said opening in said first conduit,

(j) said deflector extending across a major portion of said first conduit but spaced from the wall of said first conduit opposite said opening,

(k) whereby fluid entering said container during a drain period of operation of said machine will cause at least a portion of the air in said container to flow through said first conduit toward said receptacle past the edge of said deflector to force a major portion of the fluid draining from said receptacle to return to said container through said filter.

3. A clothes cleaning machine comprising:

(a) a receptacle adapted to receive clothes to be cleaned,

(b) a container for cleaning fluid, said container being positioned below said receptacle,

(c) first conduit means connecting said container to the lower portion of said receptacle, said first conduit means extending within said container to a point below the upper level of fluid in said container,

(d) an air pump having an inlet and an outlet,

(1) second conduit means connecting said outlet to said container,

(2) third conduit means connecting said outlet to said receptacle, said third conduit means including a valve,

(e) a return conduit means connecting the upper portion of said receptacle to said inlet of said air pump,

(l)said return conduit means including a cooling unit for cooling air passing through said return conduit means to condense cleaning fluid vapor contained therein,

(2) a condensate conduit to return the condensed cleaning fluid vapor to said container,

(f) control means for closing said valve and activating said pump during a first period of operation to direct air emitted from said air pump into said container for forcing fluid from said container through said first conduit means to said receptacle and then to agitate the fluid, and

(g) control means for deactivating said pump and opening said valve during a second period of operation to cause draining of fluid from said receptacle,

(h) control means for opening said valve and activating said air pump and said cooling unit during a third period of operation to direct air emitted from said air pump to said receptacle for drying the clothes and to condense and return to said containerthe fluid vapor emitted during the various periods of operation,

(i) a filter for the fluid, said filter opening into said container,

(j) said first conduit having an opening therein,

(k) an entry conduit connecting said filter to said first conduit at'said opening,

(1) means for diverting a major portion of the fluid draining from saidreceptacle through said entry conduit to said filter,

(in) said means including a deflector formed below said opening in said first conduit,

(11) said deflector extending across a major portion of said first conduit but spaced from the wall of said first conduit opposite said opening,

(0) whereby fluid entering said container during a drain period of operation of said machine will cause at least a portion of the air in said container to flow through said first conduit toward said receptacle past the edge of said deflector to force a major portion of the fluid draining from said receptacle to return to said container through said filter.

4. A clothes cleaning machine comprising:

(a) a receptacle adapted to receive clothes to be cleaned,

(b) a container for cleaning fluid, said container being positioned below said receptacle,

(c) a first conduit connecting the lower portion of said receptacle and said container, said first conduit means extending within said container to a point below the upper level of fluid in said container,

(d) an air pump connected to said container for forcing fluid from said container through said first conduit to said receptacle and then to agitate the fluid,

(e) a filter for the fluid, said filter opening into said container,

(f) said first conduit having an opening therein,

(g) an entry conduit connected at one end to said first conduit at said opening and connected at the other end to said filter,

(h) means for diverting to said filter a major portion of the fluid draining from said receptacle,

(i) .said means including a deflector disposed below said opening in said first conduit,

(j) said deflector extending across a major portion of said first conduit but spaced from the wall of said first conduit opposite said opening,

(k) whereby fluid entering said container during a drain period of operation of said machine will cause at least a portion of the air in said container to flow through said first conduit toward said receptacle past the edge of said deflector to force a major portion of the fluid draining from said'receptacle to return to said container through said filter.

5. A clothes cleaning machine comprising:

(a) a receptacle adapted to receive clothes to be cleaned,

(b) a container for cleaning fluid, said container being positioned below said receptacle,

(c) a first conduit connecting the lower portion of said receptacle and said container, said first conduit means extending within said container to a point below the upper level of fluid in said container,

(d) an air pump connected to said container for forcing fluid from said container through said first conduit to said receptacle and then to agitate the fluid,

(e) a filter for the fluid, said filter opening into said container, 7

(f) said first conduit having an opening therein,

(g) an entry conduit connected at one end to said first conduit at said opening and connected at the other end to said filter,

(h) means for diverting to said filter the fluid draining from said receptacle,

(i) said means including a deflector hingedly mounted below said opening in said first conduit,

(j) said deflector being movable between a first position wherein it allows unimpeded flow of said fluid through said first conduit and a second position wherein it blocks said first conduit,

(k) said deflector occupying said first position when the flow of fluid is from said container to said receptacle,

(1) said deflector occupying said second position when the flow of fluid is from said receptacle to said container,

(m) whereby the fluid flowing from said receptacle will be diverted from said first conduit through said (b) a container for cleaning fluid, said container being positioned below said receptacle, (0) first conduit means connecting said container to the lower portion of said receptacle, said first conduit means extending within said container to a point below the upper level of fluid in said container,

(d) an air pump having an inlet and an outlet,

(1) second conduit means connecting said outlet to said container,

(2) third conduit means connecting said outlet to said receptacle, said third conduit means including a valve,

(e) a return conduit means connecting the upper portion of said receptacle to said inlet of said air pump, (1) said return conduit means including a cooling unit for cooling air passing through said return conduit means to condense cleaning fluid vapor contained therein, t (2) a condensate conduit to return the condensed cleaning fluid vapor to said container,

(f) control means for closing said valve and activating said pump during a first period of operation to direct air emitted from said air pump into said container for forcing fluid from said container through said first conduit means to said receptacle :and then to agitate the fluid, and

(g) control means for deactivating said pump and opening said valve during a secondperiod of operation to cause draining of fluid from said receptacle,

(h) control means for opening said valve and activating said air pump and said cooling unit during a third period of operation to direct air emitted from said air pump to said receptacle for drying the clothes and to condense and return to said'container the fluid vapor emitted during the various periods of operation, 1

(i) a filter for the fiuid, said filter opening into said container,

(j) said first conduit having an'opening therein,

(k) an entry conduit connected at one end to said first conduit at said opening and con nected at the other end to said filter,

(1) means for diverting to said filter the fluid draining from said receptacle,

(in) said means including a deflector hingedly mounted below said opening in said first conduit,

(n) said deflector being movable between a first position wherein it allows unimpeded flow of said fluid through said first conduit and a second position wherein it blocks said first conduit,

(0) said deflector occupying said first'position when the flow of fluid is from said container to said receptacle, I

(p) said deflector occupying said second position when the flow of fluid is from said receptacle to said container, p

(q) whereby, the fluid flowing from said receptacle will be diverted from said first conduit through said filter.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,433,216 10/22. McCutchen 68-190 X 3,049,904 8/62 Rand 68-182 FOREIGN PATENTS 836,338 10/38 France. 273,307 4/28 Great Britain.

WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner. WILLIAM I. PRICE, Examiner. 

1. A DRY CLEANING MACHINE COMPRISING: (A) A RECEPTACLE ADAPTED TO RECEIVE CLOTHES TO BE CLEANED, (B) A CONTAINER FOR CLEANING FLUID, SAID CONTAINER BEING POSITIONED BELOW SAID RECEPTACLE, (C) FIRST CONDUIT MEANS CONNECTING SAID CONTAINER TO THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID RECEPTACLE, SAID FIRST CONDUIT MEANS EXTENDING WITHIN SAID CONTAINER TO A POINT BELOW THE UPPER LEVEL OF FLUID IN SAID CONTAINER, (D) AN AIR PUMP HAVING AN OUTLET, (1) SECOND CONDUIT MEANS CONNECTING SAID OUTLET TO SAID CONTAINER, (2) THIRD CONDUIT MEANS CONNECTING SAID OUTLET TO SAID RECEPTACLE, SAID THIRD CONDUIT MEANS INCLUDING A VALVE, (E) A FILTER FOR THE FLUID, (F) FIRST MEANS CONNECTING SAID FILTER WITH SAID CONTAINER, (G) SECOND MEANS CONNECTING SAID FILTER WITH SAID FIRST CONDUIT MEANS FOR RECEIVING FLUID DRAINING FORM SAID RECEPTACLE, (H) MEANS PROJECTING INTO SAID FIST CONDUIT MEANS FOR DIVERTING SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE FLUID DRAINING FROM SAID RECEPTCLE TO SAID FILTER THROUGH SAID SECOND MEANS. 